Man Utd fans rave at resurfaced clip of 13-year-old Erik ten Hag impressing Johan Cruyff

Manchester United fans have hailed Erik ten Hag for his knowledge of coaching after seeing a resurfaced clip of him as a youngster impressing Netherlands icon Johan Cruyff

Rhys Daly Senior Sports Reporter

10:46, 18 Jan 2023

Erik ten Hag new his stuff long before his managerial career began(Image: VOS)

Manchester United fans think Erik ten Hag had a 'higher IQ at 13 than most Premier League managers now' thanks to a resurfaced chat with football icon Johan Cruyff.

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Ten Hag, who has earned the faith of United fans by overseeing five Premier League victories in a row, met with the Netherlands hero in the mid-80s as part of a TV show.

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The youngster got his chance to speak during a chat about how managers reprimand players, with Cruyff clearly in agreement with his view on the difference between kids and professionals.

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The legendary star said to the youngster: "But it happens a lot, right, that a trainer yells. Or does that not happen with you guys?"

With the young Ten Hag saying: "I think you should watch out that you don't yell to the youth too much, because you can break a player like that.

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"But on a higher level, such as the first team of Ajax, you should be able to say something about it. Those guys train almost every day in the week. If they keep making the same mistakes, you should be able to confront them."

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Johan Cruyff listened intently to a young Erik Ten Hag(Image: VOS)

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With Cruyff following up with: "So that means you differentiate between youth and paid football?" Ten Hag simply replied: "Yes."

One United fan said: "My f***ing manager at 13 years of age had a higher IQ than most PL managers now."

A second agreed: "Erik Ten Hag, The new greatest manager. I'm so happy he coaches Manchester United."

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BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: Johan Cruijff coach of Barcelona looks on during the Champions League round 1 match between FC Barcelona and Viking Stavanger at the Camp Nou Stadium on September 16, 1992 in Barcelona, Spain.

Johan Cruyff won three Ballon d'Ors as a player and later coached Ajax and Barcelona (Image: Bongarts/Getty Images)

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: Manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United walks out ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on December 27, 2022 in Manchester, England. (

Erik ten Hag has reasons to be cheerful at Manchester United(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)

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With Ajax icon Cruyff going on to manage the club as well as Barcelona in retirement from playing, he passed away at the age of 68 back in 2016.

Ten Hag went on to become Ajax boss in 2017, remaining there for five years and picking up three Eredivisie titles, as well two domestic cups and the Johan Cruyff Shield.

Since joining United in the summer, the 52-year-old has won 21 of his 28 matches in charge, drawing twice and losing five times, with four competitions still to play for.

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